Tube question: any sonic difference in 6SN7 vs 6H30 vs 6H80 in the amp's signal position?


Tube question: any sonic difference in 6SN7 vs 6H30 vs 6H80 in the amp's signal position?

Reason I ask is I just received a new-to-me BAT VK-55, and it has 6SN7 tubes in the signal positions, which is also what the manual references as the right tube, but the Stereophile review, in the specs page, references 6H80s in the same position, and VK-55SE uses a pair each of 6SN7s and 6H30s.  

BAT output tubes are 6C33C-Bs, so no tube rolling here, as it appears Solvtek is the only manufacturer of this style tube. I am wondering what if anything I can do with the signal tubes to help improve clarity of higher frequencies?
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Showing 4 responses by atmasphere

The 6C33 was used for the power supply for the Mig's radio system and was remarkable for its power handling capabilities. The first audio amp using this tube was built by a Mr. Dakasue in 1977.
The first American design to use this tube was the Atma-Sphere Novacron. IME the tubes stand a good chance of outlasting the tube sockets, which never specced for the kind of filament current seen with the 6C33. That tube was a modified version of the Sylvania 3C33 which was a dual power triode.  The Russian spec sheet calls for a 750 hour life; at which time the socket was expected to be replaced with the power tube. With such a short life and with a military application, this easily explains why so many were built (although in practice they can last much longer than that).


The sockets should be replaced about every 3000 hours or so. The filament connections overheat and loosen up. It is possible to re-tighten them once, but after that they will become problematic with the tubes not lighting up.  IIRC correctly they were made by the Uljanov plant, which was torn down about 20 years ago.



I lived there for 35 years, and never saw  those in the commercially available devices.
Yes. It was made exclusively for the military.
The 6SN7 is a better sounding tube as its easier to find examples that have lower microphonics. IOW the 6SN7 was designed for audio.

BTW the 6C33 power tube has been out of production and the plant that made them dismantled for about 19 years.